1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 4 · The Creation of the Fourth Order · 31 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 4 · Chapter 25: The Descriptions of the Characteristics of King Purañjana
4.25.57-614.26.1-3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.25.62

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 4.25.43inside 5 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraNārada Muni → King PrācīnabarhiThe allegory of King Purañjana → Prācīnabarhi, as listener

विप्रलब्धो महिष्यैवं सर्वप्रकृतिवञ्चित: ।

नेच्छन्ननुकरोत्यज्ञ: क्लैब्यात्क्रीडामृगो यथा ॥ ६२ ॥

vipralabdho mahiṣyaivaṁ

sarva-prakṛti-vañcitaḥ

necchann anukaroty ajñaḥ

klaibyāt krīḍā-mṛgo yathā

Translation

In this way, King Purañjana was captivated by his nice wife and was thus cheated. Indeed, he became cheated in his whole existence in the material world. Even against that poor foolish King’s desire, he remained under the control of his wife, just like a pet animal that dances according to the order of its master.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Reveals Knowledge and Renunciation

  1. 1

    Seeking to satisfy his desires, Purañjana became controlled by material intelligence like a pet animal by its master. He followed even when he did not wish to do so.

  2. 2

    Association with a saintly devotee makes the path of liberation clear, whereas attachment to sexual enjoyment strengthens bondage. The purport recommends avoiding illicit sex and regulating sexual life as preparation for renunciation.

  3. 3

    Knowledge is valuable because it can lead to devotional service to Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. By taking directly to devotional service, actual knowledge and renunciation arise without separate endeavor, making life successful.

Key points from the purport
  • Just to satisfy his desires, the King got the Queen, and thus he became cheated by material existence.
  • Devotional service automatically reveals actual knowledge of our material existence.
  • By directly taking to devotional service, however, one becomes filled with knowledge and renunciation.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 3

The purport of SB 4.25.62 quotesSB 5.5.2

In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (5.5.2) it is said, mahat-sevāṁ dvāram āhur vimukteḥ: if one associates with a saintly person, a devotee, one’s path of liberation becomes clear.

The purport of SB 4.25.62 quotesBG 18.54

As Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavad-gītā (18.54): “One who is thus transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme Brahman and becomes fully joyful.

The purport of SB 4.25.62 quotesSB 1.2.7

This is confirmed in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.7): Devotional service automatically reveals actual knowledge of our material existence.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

How it feels

Worldly absorption → Sobering awareness. The mind's identification with material life becomes visible.

Chapters 24–29 of Canto 4: Śiva's song and the allegory of Purañjana. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 25: The Descriptions of the Characteristics of King Purañjana

Nārada’s allegory introduces Purañjana, his search for enjoyment, and his attraction to a woman.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.25
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vipralabdhaḥcaptivated
  2. mahiṣyāby the Queen
  3. evamthus
  4. sarvaall
  5. prakṛtiexistence
  6. vañcitaḥbeing cheated
  7. na icchanwithout desiring
  8. anukarotiused to follow and imitate
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.25

    In this verse: “material”, “attachment”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.25

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotee”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.25

    In this verse: “king”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I give devotional service priority over desires that keep me under material control?

Practice

Arrange a brief conversation with a devotee today about making devotional service central to your life.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Service Reveals Knowledge and RenunciationThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 4.25.62? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories